Real Madrid’s stuttering campaign this season continued as they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Leganes, who are 13th in the La Liga.
Madrid had taken the first leg of the quarter final 1-0 last week at Leganes, but back in Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, a forward line that included Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Lucas Vazquez and Isco found the Leganes team too difficult to handle.
Leganes’ Javier Eraso scored first in the 31st minute to erase Madrid’s advantage from the first leg.
Two minutes after the resumption of play, Benzema re-established Madrid’s advantage. But that soon went up in smoke in the 55th minute when Gabriel scored for Leganes, making the aggregate score 2-2.
With Madrid unable to score, despite having 55 per cent possession, Leganes won the match based on the away goals rule.
With the La Liga out of reach this season, Madrid, 4th on the table and trailing Barcelona with 19 points, are now left with the Champions League to redeem themselves in a season that appeared to have been a horrible one.
Leganes, who demolished the giants Madrid were until 2013 in Spanish Segunda División B. In 2014, they were Promoted to La Liga 2. And in 2016, they earned another promotion to La Liga, for the first time in their history.
They have now reached the Copa del Rey semi-finals, while Madrid are out.
(NAN)
